We get about 70 years, give or take. As my husband and I interact with students of all ages, we are often confronted with people who do not know the answer to this question. In not knowing, they become largely inactive and seemingly lazy, though laziness is not often the issue. So what keeps you from moving forward? What keeps you from taking the next step in life?
Is it fear of the unknown?
The unknown is a dangerous, exciting place. When we can’t see how something will work out, it’s often easier to sit still and do nothing. There’s nothing wrong with being still. God implores us to do so. When that stillness is coming from fear, however, we dishonor God and allow our emotions to freeze us in a moment in time. Next thing you know, you’re a 37 year old gamer in your mom’s basement.
Is it fear of failure?
Winston Churchill says “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts” Failure is how we learn. Pain is how we grow. The pain of fire helps us learn not to play with that stuff. The failure to earn a living wage helps us learn to do whatever it takes to put food on the table. Too often we are more concerned with what others will think of us that we don’t move. We are afraid that the expectations will be too high, the cost too great. So we sit in the status quo, content to do nothing rather than fail boldly.
Is is fear of success?
I know many people who will get to the brink of success, only to do something to self-destruct. The addict goes 11 months before self-destructing. The musician has all the right connections only to make someone angry and lose it all. The middle-manager has worked hard for the promotion, only to make one illegal mistake to lose it. Sometimes, we are so used to failure, that we find comfort in playing the victim and any amount of success wouldn’t allow us to rest on our failures any longer.
Is it fear of responsibility?
This is the weight of expectation and ties in closely with the fear of success. We are afraid that if we set the bar too high, we will be rejected if we fail to reach it. We are afraid to buy a house because what if they foreclose. We are afraid to get married because what if they leave me. We are afraid to dive into a career because we don’t think we can make a living at it.
The root of this sin is fear. The root of fear is selfishness. The remedy to this and all things is to center your life around loving Jesus.
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
For fear has to do with punishment. We must remember that, for those who love and serve Him, Jesus took our punishment. He alone bore the weight of the Father’s wrath so that we might be called the children of God. (John 1) Romans 8 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. IF we are found complete in this love the Father has for His children, then what do we have to fear? “… if God is for us, who could be against us.” Romand 8:31
The practical application is this. Focus on Jesus, then move. Keep your life focused on knowing, loving, and serving Jesus. Then GO. DO SOMETHING. Don’t be content to sit on the sidelines in fear. Trust Jesus, then get off your blessed assurance and do something.
Sascha Webb